News & Media

Tunisia Joins the International Trademark System

Tunisia's Minister of Industry Mehdi Jomâa and WIPO Director General Francis Gurry today hailed the entry into force of the Madrid Protocol in Tunisia, while reviewing bilateral cooperation and discussing WIPO's future technical assistance to Tunisia.

Tunisia deposited its instrument of accession to the Madrid Protocol for the International Registration of Marks on July 16, 2013 and the treaty entered into force for Tunisia on October 16, 2013. The Madrid System for the International Registration of Marks (Madrid system), now with 92 members, offers trademark owners a cost effective, user friendly and streamlined means of protecting and managing their trademark portfolio internationally.

Mr. Gurry welcomed Tunisia’s accession, noting that “Tunisia’s accession further broadens the global reach of the Madrid system.” The Director General said: “Brand owners from all Madrid system members will now be able to extend their protection to the important Tunisian market, through a single, simplified and cost-effective procedure.”

Mr. Jomâa noted that Tunisia’s participation in the Madrid system is a welcome development for Tunisian businesses, in particular small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as international businesses wishing to acquire brand protection in Tunisia.

The Madrid system has experienced exceptional expansion recently. In the last 18 months, the Colombia, India, Mexico, New Zealand, Philippines and Rwanda have each acceded, resulting in a significant geographical expansion of the system.

Despite the uncertain global economic condition, the Madrid system has shown signs of strength: 2012 saw the highest number of international trademark applications ever filed under the Madrid system, with 44,018 applications, or a 4.1 % increase compared to 2011. Furthermore, a record number of 41,954 international registrations were recorded.